A Slice of the Pie

I like all kinds of pie. Coconut cream. Lemon Meringue. Cherry. Apple. But I’m not talking about the kind of pie you eat (though the thought makes my mouth water).

I want to talk about your slice of the publishing pie.

There are many publishing opportunities out there…a veritable feast of pies. Magazines have slots to fill each month they publish an issue. Anthologies need to fill their books with stories written by someone—it might as well be you. And contrary to what you might think in this struggling economy, publishers ARE making deals with authors to publish books.

Have you set your sights on what part of the pie you’d like? Short stories? Articles? Features? Books? The pies will be split and apportioned out. Are you sticking your thumb in there like Little Jack Horner?

The harder and more effectively you work,
the greater the rewards are going to be.Zig Ziglar

In their own words, here’s what two women recently told me about their own success in the publishing world:

“I had to let you know two of my devotions were accepted for Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times. I am so excited, but I owe much to you because I attended your classes last year at Mount Hermon. Putting your tips into practice paid off.”
Blessings,
Sue Tornai

“I took your advice and entered a devotional last month for Chicken Soup for the Soul Devotional Stories for Tough Times. I just received an email saying it made it into the final round! Yay! Thanks for your encouragement!”
Blessings,
Marilyn Turk

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention again the determination of two very awesome women, Lisa Bogart and Marci Seither. They’ve been attendees at the Mount Hermon Conference and last summer submitted stories to the Guideposts Writers Workshop Contest. They both won spots in the October 2010 retreat (and so did Marilyn Turk above and Shauna Kattler) where the editors taught them everything they know about writing first-person inspirational true stories. All four are coming to the conference this year to learn even more. Good job, Girls!

I’ve had other writers let me know they’ve had success in grabbing their own piece of the success pie and I couldn’t be more excited for each and every one of them.

Want to learn more? Desire to write better? Find out the formula I teach for “Writing Personal Experience Stories That Sell” at either of the two conferences listed below. They’re both fabulous events. You won’t be sorry if you attend.

Hope to see you there!

Happy writing and blessings on your work.

What’s Happening…

Mount Hermon Christian Writers ConferenceApril 15-19. Don’t miss out on your FREE Pre-Conference Critiques! As a paid registrant, you may send up to 20 pages of two manuscripts or two articles or poems, etc., ahead of the conference for either critique or editorial review (must be received at Mount Hermon by April 12th). This opportunity is usually something you have to pay for at other conferences, but at Mount Hermon, it comes FREE. Not only that, but during the entire conference there are editors and agents walking around who are willing to answer questions, meet with you (again for FREE), or you can sit with them at a lunch or dinner table. This is the place Where Writers Come to Grow. Network and build your skills in this fabulous conference setting of majestic redwoods in the mountains just outside San Jose. http://mounthermon.org/adult/professionals/writers-conference

Don’t delay….sign up TODAY!

OC Christian Writers Conference – April 29 and 30 at Mariners Church in Irvine, California. That picture is three of my friends who will be there at this conference. They are members of a long-term writers’ group and I can’t wait to see them again! At this conference, get ready for a two-day event that will knock your socks off. There are writing contests, mentor workshops, a meet-and-greet with faculty, 27 classes, and editors, award-winning authors, and literary agents to interact with. Note: There is a lot to avail yourself of. Check out the website for more information. Don’t miss a thing! www.occwf.org